Question:
I was wondering what we could do with our 10-month-old puppy. She is a border collie named Misty and whenever light comes into the house or there are shadows on the ground from lights, she tries to dig the light up. We have tried distractions but she goes back to the same thing. Our carpet has threads loose everywhere. Please help save our carpet. Thanks.
Felicity Power
Answer:
Dogs certainly can chase things of interest such as shadows or lights, especially dogs from working breeds such as yours. Misty may just grow out of this behaviour on her own. However, if it gets worse or you feel this is severe, you should have her assessed by your vet. These dogs can suffer obsessive compulsive disorders such as you describe and it could be a sign of anxiety or a chemical imbalance in the brain. The vet can give her a thorough physical examination to look for any neurological or medical problems and refer you if need be. Treatment may involve medication or just behavioural therapy to try and reduce this habitual behaviour. Or they may decide treatment isn’t warranted and to just wait and see. Err on the side of caution and have her checked out.
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